What are the conditions for removing ritual impurity, and is it permissible to vocalize the intention aloud or silently?
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The questioner : What are the conditions for removing ritual impurity, and is it permissible to vocalize the intention aloud or silently?
The Shaykh : Ritual impurity is of two types. The impurity of a dog requires seven washings, one of which must be with soil, and it is preferable for the soil to be in the first washing. This is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah and others, that the impurity of a dog requires seven washings, one of which is with soil.
As for impurity other than that of a dog, the condition is that the substance of the impurity be removed, whether by one washing, two, three, or more. The important thing is that the substance of the impurity must be removed. This is also required for the impurity of a dog, but the impurity of a dog is distinguished from others in that if the substance is removed by three washings, one must still complete the seven, one of which must be with soil.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is if the impurity is on something other than the ground. If it is on the ground, it is sufficient to pour water over it that covers it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the Bedouin who urinated in the mosque:Sahih al-Bukhari 220.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for vocalizing the intention, it is not a condition, nor is it recommended. Removing ritual impurity does not require an intention, as evidenced by the fact that if there is impurity on a rooftop and rain falls on it until the impurity is removed, it becomes pure, even though the person did not intend it. Therefore, an intention is not required for removing ritual impurity.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Ritual impurity is of two types. The impurity of a dog requires seven washings, one of which must be with soil, and it is preferable for the soil to be in the first washing. This is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah and others, that the impurity of a dog requires seven washings, one of which is with soil.
As for impurity other than that of a dog, the condition is that the substance of the impurity be removed, whether by one washing, two, three, or more. The important thing is that the substance of the impurity must be removed. This is also required for the impurity of a dog, but the impurity of a dog is distinguished from others in that if the substance is removed by three washings, one must still complete the seven, one of which must be with soil.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is if the impurity is on something other than the ground. If it is on the ground, it is sufficient to pour water over it that covers it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the Bedouin who urinated in the mosque:
to pour a bucket or a tumbler of water over the place where he had passed the urine
أريقوا على بوله سجلاً من ماء أو ذنوباً من ماءThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for vocalizing the intention, it is not a condition, nor is it recommended. Removing ritual impurity does not require an intention, as evidenced by the fact that if there is impurity on a rooftop and rain falls on it until the impurity is removed, it becomes pure, even though the person did not intend it. Therefore, an intention is not required for removing ritual impurity.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.